Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis,1/15 scale (Detail)
Image:
Description:
The Spirit of St. Louis was designed by Donald Hall under Lindbergh’s supervision. It was a highly modified version of a Ryan M-2 strut-braced monoplane and was powered by a Wright Whirlwind J-5C engine. “NYP” stands for “New York–Paris.”
The fuel tanks were installed ahead of the cockpit for safety in case of an accident, so Lindbergh could not see directly ahead, except by using a periscope or by turning the airplane and looking out a side window. The two tubes protruding from the bottom of the fuselage are flare dispensers installed for Lindbergh’s Latin American tour.
Credit:
National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
Accession Number:
A19721298000
Photo Number:
NASM 2011-00547
Full Size Image:
Date:
2011
Media Type:
Artifact
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